Krishna Saves Lord Shiva from Vrikasura

Verse 1 (bhagavata.10.88.1)

श्रीराजोवाच देवासुरमनुष्येषु ये भजन्त्यशिवं शिवम् । प्रायस्ते धनिनो भोजा न तु लक्ष्म्याः पतिं हरिम् ॥ 88.1 ॥

śrī-rājovāca devāsura-manuṣyesu ye bhajanty aśivaṁ śivam prāyas te dhanino bhojā na tu lakṣmyāḥ patiṁ harim

King Parikshit said: Among the gods, demons and men, those who worship Shiva — who, though clad in inauspicious garb, is himself the auspicious one — generally become wealthy and given to enjoyment; but those who worship Lord Hari, the husband of the goddess of fortune, do not.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.10.88.2)

एतद् वेदितुमिच्छामः सन्देहोऽत्र महान् हि नः । विरुद्धशीलयोः प्रभ्वोर्विरुद्धा भजतां गतिः ॥ 88.2 ॥

etad veditum icchāmaḥ sandeho ’tra mahān hi naḥ viruddha-śīlayoḥ prabhvor viruddhā bhajatāṁ gatiḥ

We wish to understand this properly, for we have great doubt about it — why should the worshipers of these two lords, so opposite in nature, attain results that are likewise opposite to one another?

Verse 3 (bhagavata.10.88.3)

श्रीशुक उवाच शिवः शक्तियुतः शश्वत् त्रिलिङ्गो गुणसंवृतः । वैकारिकस्तैजसश्च तामसश्चेत्यहं त्रिधा ॥ 88.3 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca śivaḥ śakti-yutaḥ śaśvat tri-liṅgo guṇa-saṁvṛtaḥ vaikārikas taijasaś ca tāmasaś cety ahaṁ tridhā

Shri Shukadeva said: Shiva is ever united with his own energy, threefold in nature and enveloped by the modes; he represents the very principle of false ego in its threefold form — as vaikarika (goodness), taijasa (passion) and tamasa (ignorance).

Verse 4 (bhagavata.10.88.4)

ततो विकारा अभवन् षोडशामीषु कञ्चन । उपधावन् विभूतीनां सर्वासामश्नुते गतिम् ॥ 88.4 ॥

tato vikārā abhavan ṣoḍaśāmīṣu kañcana upadhāvan vibhūtīnāṁ sarvāsām aśnute gatim

From that principle of false ego the sixteen material elements evolved. Whoever worships any one of these attains the fortune corresponding to it.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.10.88.5)

हरिर्हि निर्गुणः साक्षात् पुरुषः प्रकृतेः परः । स सर्वदृगुपद्रष्टा तं भजन् निर्गुणो भवेत् ॥ 88.5 ॥

harir hi nirguṇaḥ sākṣāt puruṣaḥ prakṛteḥ paraḥ sa sarva-dṛg upadraṣṭā taṁ bhajan nirguṇo bhavet

Lord Hari, however, is entirely free of the modes, transcendental to material nature, the direct Supreme Person and the witness of all; one who worships Him likewise becomes free of the modes.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.10.88.6)

निवृत्तेष्वश्वमेधेषु राजा युष्मत्पितामहः । शृण्वन् भगवतो धर्मानपृच्छदिदमच्युतम् ॥ 88.6 ॥

nivṛtteṣv aśva-medheṣu rājā yuṣmat-pitāmahaḥ śṛṇvan bhagavato dharmān apṛcchad idam acyutam

Your grandfather, King Yudhishthira, after his Ashvamedha sacrifices were completed, while listening to the Lord's teaching on dharma, asked Lord Achyuta this very same question.

Verse 7 (bhagavata.10.88.7)

स आह भगवांस्तस्मै प्रीतः शुश्रूषवे प्रभुः । नृणां निःश्रेयसार्थाय योऽवतीर्णो यदोः कुले ॥ 88.7 ॥

sa āha bhagavāṁs tasmai prītaḥ śuśrūṣave prabhuḥ nṛṇāṁ niḥśreyasārthāya yo ’vatīrṇo yadoḥ kule

Pleased by that question, the Lord and Master, who had descended into the Yadu dynasty for the supreme good of all mankind, spoke as follows to the King, who listened eagerly.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.10.88.8)

श्रीभगवानुवाच यस्याहमनुगृह्णामि हरिष्ये तद्धनं शनैः । ततोऽधनं त्यजन्त्यस्य स्वजना दुःखदुःखितम् ॥ 88.8 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca yasyāham anugṛhṇāmi hariṣye tad-dhanaṁ śanaiḥ tato ’dhanaṁ tyajanty asya svajanā duḥkha-duḥkhitam

The Supreme Lord said: On whomever I bestow special favor, I gradually take away his wealth; then, once he is poor, his own kinsfolk abandon him, afflicted as he now is with one misery after another.

Verse 9 (bhagavata.10.88.9)

स यदा वितथोद्योगो निर्विण्णः स्याद् धनेहया । मत्परैः कृतमैत्रस्य करिष्ये मदनुग्रहम् ॥ 88.9 ॥

sa yadā vitathodyogo nirviṇṇaḥ syād dhanehayā mat-paraiḥ kṛta-maitrasya kariṣye mad-anugraham

When, disheartened by his fruitless efforts to gain wealth, he takes up friendship with My devotees, then I bestow My special grace upon him.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.10.88.10)

तद् ब्रह्म परमं सूक्ष्मं चिन्मात्रं सदनन्तकम् । विज्ञायात्मतया धीरः संसारात्परिमुच्यते ॥ 88.10 ॥

tad brahma paramaṁ sūkṣmaṁ cin-mātraṁ sad anantakam vijñāyātmatayā dhīraḥ saṁsārāt parimucyate

Thus become steady of mind, he comes to know that supreme, subtle, purely conscious, eternal Brahman as his own true self, and is thereby freed from the cycle of worldly existence.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.10.88.11)

अतो मां सुदुराराध्यं हित्वान्यान् भजते जनः । ततस्त आशुतोषेभ्यो लब्धराज्यश्रियोद्धताः । मत्ताः प्रमत्ता वरदान् विस्मयन्त्यवजानते ॥ 88.11 ॥

ato māṁ su-durārādhyaṁ hitvānyān bhajate janaḥ tatas ta āśu-toṣebhyo labdha-rājya-śriyoddhatāḥ mattāḥ pramattā vara-dān vismayanty avajānate

Because I am so difficult to please, people generally set Me aside and worship other gods, who are quickly satisfied; obtaining royal fortune from them, they grow arrogant, and intoxicated with pride and heedlessness, they come even to disdain the very gods who granted them that boon.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.10.88.12)

श्रीशुक उवाच शापप्रसादयोरीशा ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादयः । सद्यःशापप्रसादोऽङ्ग शिवो ब्रह्मा न चाच्युतः ॥ 88.12 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca śāpa-prasādayor īśā brahma-viṣṇu-śivādayaḥ sadyaḥ śāpa-prasādo ’ṅga śivo brahmā na cācyutaḥ

Shri Shukadeva said: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the rest all have the power to curse or to bless; but, my dear King, Shiva and Brahma do so instantly, whereas the infallible Lord does not.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.10.88.13)

अत्र चोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । वृकासुराय गिरिशो वरं दत्त्वाप सङ्कटम् ॥ 88.13 ॥

atra codāharantīmam itihāsaṁ purātanam vṛkāsurāya giriśo varaṁ dattvāpa saṅkaṭam

In this connection an ancient history is related, telling how the lord of Kailasa, having granted a boon to a demon named Vrika, thereby fell into grave danger.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.10.88.14)

वृको नामासुरः पुत्रः शकुनेः पथि नारदम् । दृष्ट्वाशुतोषं पप्रच्छ देवेषु त्रिषु दुर्मतिः ॥ 88.14 ॥

vṛko nāmāsuraḥ putraḥ śakuneḥ pathi nāradam dṛṣṭvāśu-toṣaṁ papraccha deveṣu triṣu durmatiḥ

A demon named Vrika, son of Shakuni, once met Narada on the road. That evil-minded fellow asked him which of the three principal gods could be pleased most quickly.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.10.88.15)

स आह देवं गिरिशमुपाधावाशु सिद्ध्यसि । योऽल्पाभ्यां गुणदोषाभ्यामाशु तुष्यति कुप्यति ॥ 88.15 ॥

sa āha devaṁ giriśam upādhāvāśu siddhyasi yo ’lpābhyāṁ guṇa-doṣābhyām āśu tuṣyati kupyati

Narada said: Worship the god Shiva, and you will attain success at once; even the slightest merit or fault quickly pleases or angers him.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.10.88.16)

दशास्यबाणयोस्तुष्टः स्तुवतोर्वन्दिनोरिव । ऐश्वर्यमतुलं दत्त्वा तत आप सुसङ्कटम् ॥ 88.16 ॥

daśāsya-bāṇayos tuṣṭaḥ stuvator vandinor iva aiśvaryam atulaṁ dattvā tata āpa su-saṅkaṭam

He was pleased with ten-headed Ravana and with Banasura when they praised him like court-bards; granting each of them incomparable power, he thereby came, in the end, into great difficulty himself.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.10.88.17)

इत्यादिष्टस्तमसुर उपाधावत् स्वगात्रतः । केदार आत्मक्रव्येण जुह्वानोऽग्निमुखं हरम् ॥ 88.17 ॥

ity ādiṣṭas tam asura upādhāvat sva-gātrataḥ kedāra ātma-kravyeṇa juhvāno gni-mukhaṁ haram

[Shri Shukadeva continued:] Thus advised, the demon went to worship Shiva at Kedaranatha, cutting off pieces of flesh from his own body and offering them as oblations into the fire that is Shiva's own mouth.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.10.88.18)

देवोपलब्धिमप्राप्य निर्वेदात् सप्तमेऽहनि । शिरोऽवृश्चत् सुधितिना तत्तीर्थक्लिन्नमूर्धजम् ॥ 88.18 ॥

devopalabdhim aprāpya nirvedāt saptame ’hani śiro ’vṛścat sudhitinā tat-tīrtha-klinna-mūrdhajam

Failing to obtain a vision of the god, and grown despondent, on the seventh day he seized his own hair, wet with the sacred waters of Kedara, and with a sharp axe made ready to sever his head.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.10.88.19)

तदा महाकारुणिको स धूर्जटि- र्यथा वयं चाग्निरिवोत्थितोऽनलात् । निगृह्य दोर्भ्यां भुजयोर्न्यवारयत् तत्स्पर्शनाद् भूय उपस्कृताकृतिः ॥ 88.19 ॥

tadā mahā-kāruṇiko sa dhūrjaṭir yathā vayaṁ cāgnir ivotthito ’nalāt nigṛhya dorbhyāṁ bhujayor nyavārayat tat-sparśanād bhūya upaskṛtākṛtiḥ

At that very moment the most merciful Shiva, rising up out of the fire as if he were the fire-god himself, seized both his arms and stopped him — just as we ourselves would do — and at that touch, the demon's body was instantly restored whole again.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.10.88.20)

तमाह चाङ्गालमलं वृणीष्व मे यथाभिकामं वितरामि ते वरम् । प्रीयेय तोयेन नृणां प्रपद्यता- महो त्वयात्मा भृशमर्द्यते वृथा ॥ 88.20 ॥

tam āha cāṅgālam alaṁ vṛṇīṣva me yathābhikāmaṁ vitarāmi te varam prīyeya toyena nṛṇāṁ prapadyatām aho tvayātmā bhṛśam ardyate vṛthā

Shiva said to him: Enough, my friend, enough! Ask of me whatever you wish, and I shall grant you that boon. I am pleased even by a mere offering of water from those who take shelter of me — alas, how needlessly you have tormented your own body!

Verse 21 (bhagavata.10.88.21)

देवं स वव्रे पापीयान् वरं भूतभयावहम् । यस्य यस्य करं शीर्ष्णि धास्ये स म्रियतामिति ॥ 88.21 ॥

devaṁ sa vavre pāpīyān varaṁ bhūta-bhayāvaham yasya yasya karaṁ śīrṣṇi dhāsye sa mriyatām iti

[Shri Shukadeva continued:] That most sinful Vrika chose from the god a boon that would strike terror into every living being. He said, "Let whomever I touch upon the head with my hand fall dead at once."

Verse 22 (bhagavata.10.88.22)

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान् रुद्रो दुर्मना इव भारत । ॐ इति प्रहसंस्तस्मै ददेऽहेरमृतं यथा ॥ 88.22 ॥

tac chrutvā bhagavān rudro durmanā iva bhārata om iti prahasaṁs tasmai dade ’her amṛtaṁ yathā

Hearing this, Lord Rudra grew somewhat troubled at heart; yet, O descendant of Bharata, he uttered "Om" with a smile and granted him that boon — as though offering nectar to a venomous serpent.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.10.88.23)

स तद्वरपरीक्षार्थं शम्भोर्मूर्ध्नि किलासुरः । स्वहस्तं धातुमारेभे सोऽबिभ्यत् स्वकृताच्छिवः ॥ 88.23 ॥

sa tad-vara-parīkṣārthaṁ śambhor mūrdhni kilāsuraḥ sva-hastaṁ dhātum ārebhe so ’bibhyat sva-kṛtāc chivaḥ

To test that very boon, the demon then tried to place his hand upon the head of Shambhu himself; and Shiva grew fearful of what he himself had done.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.10.88.24)

तेनोपसृष्टः सन्त्रस्तः पराधावन् सवेपथुः । यावदन्तं दिवो भूमेः कष्ठानामुदगादुदक् ॥ 88.24 ॥

tenopasṛṣṭaḥ santrastaḥ parādhāvan sa-vepathuḥ yāvad antaṁ divo bhūmeḥ kaṣṭhānām udagād udak

Pursued by him, terrified and trembling, Shiva fled swiftly from his abode in the north, running on until he reached the very limits of sky, earth and the ends of the horizons.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.10.88.25)

अजानन्तः प्रतिविधिं तूष्णीमासन् सुरेश्वराः । ततो वैकुण्ठमगमद् भास्वरं तमसः परम् ॥ 88.25 ॥

ajānantaḥ prati-vidhiṁ tūṣṇīm āsan sureśvarāḥ tato vaikuṇṭham agamad bhāsvaraṁ tamasaḥ param

Not knowing any remedy, the great gods could only remain silent. Then Shiva reached that luminous realm of Vaikuntha, beyond all darkness,

Verse 26 (bhagavata.10.88.26)

यत्र नारायणः साक्षान्न्यासिनां परमो गतिः । शान्तानां न्यस्तदण्डानां यतो नावर्तते गतः ॥ 88.26 ॥

yatra nārāyaṇaḥ sākṣān nyāsināṁ paramo gatiḥ śāntānāṁ nyasta-daṇḍānāṁ yato nāvartate gataḥ

where Narayana Himself is the supreme goal of the renounced — of those peaceful souls who have laid down all violence, and who, once having gone there, never return again.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.10.88.27)

तं तथाव्यसनं दृष्ट्वा भगवान् वृजिनार्दनः । दूरात् प्रत्युदियाद् भूत्वा बटुको योगमायया ॥ 88.27 ॥

taṁ tathā vyasanaṁ dṛṣṭvā bhagavān vṛjinārdanaḥ dūrāt pratyudiyād bhūtvā baṭuko yoga-māyayā

Seeing Shiva thus in danger, even from afar, the Lord who removes His devotees' distress assumed, by His yogamaya, the form of a young brahmachari student and advanced toward him — toward the demon.

Verse 28 (bhagavata.10.88.28)

मेखलाजिनदण्डाक्षैस्तेजसाग्निरिव ज्वलन् । अभिवादयामास च तं कुशपाणिर्विनीतवत् ॥ 88.28 ॥

mekhalājina-daṇḍākṣais tejasāgnir iva jvalan abhivādayām āsa ca taṁ kuśa-pāṇir vinīta-vat

Wearing the sacred girdle, deerskin, staff and beads, glowing with a brilliance like fire, holding kusha grass in hand, He humbly offered him greeting.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.10.88.29)

श्रीभगवानुवाच शाकुनेय भवान् व्यक्तं श्रान्तः किं दूरमागतः । क्षणं विश्रम्यतां पुंस आत्मायं सर्वकामधुक् ॥ 88.29 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca śākuneya bhavān vyaktaṁ śrāntaḥ kiṁ dūram āgataḥ kṣaṇaṁ viśramyatāṁ puṁsa ātmāyaṁ sarva-kāma-dhuk

The Supreme Lord said: O son of Shakuni, you seem plainly weary — have you come from far away? Rest here a moment, for it is this very body that fulfills all of a man's desires.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.10.88.30)

यदि नः श्रवणायालं युष्मद्व्यवसितं विभो । भण्यतां प्रायशः पुम्भिर्धृतैः स्वार्थान् समीहते ॥ 88.30 ॥

yadi naḥ śravaṇāyālaṁ yuṣmad-vyavasitaṁ vibho bhaṇyatāṁ prāyaśaḥ pumbhir dhṛtaiḥ svārthān samīhate

O mighty one, if it is fit for Us to hear, please tell Us what you have resolved to do — for men generally accomplish their purposes with the help of others.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.10.88.31)

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं भगवता पृष्टो वचसामृतवर्षिणा । गतक्लमोऽब्रवीत्तस्मै यथापूर्वमनुष्ठितम् ॥ 88.31 ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ bhagavatā pṛṣṭo vacasāmṛta-varṣiṇā gata-klamo ’bravīt tasmai yathā-pūrvam anuṣṭhitam

Shri Shukadeva said: Thus questioned by the Lord, whose words poured down like nectar, Vrika's weariness vanished, and he told Him everything just as it had happened.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.10.88.32)

श्रीभगवानुवाच एवं चेत्तर्हि तद्वाक्यं न वयं श्रद्दधीमहि । यो दक्षशापात् पैशाच्यं प्राप्तः प्रेतपिशाचराट् ॥ 88.32 ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca evaṁ cet tarhi tad-vākyaṁ na vayaṁ śraddadhīmahi yo dakṣa-śāpāt paiśācyaṁ prāptaḥ preta-piśāca-rāṭ

The Supreme Lord said: If that is so, then We cannot put faith in what Shiva has said — for he is the very one who, cursed by Daksha, became a lord of ghosts and hobgoblins, reduced to a ghoulish state.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.10.88.33)

यदि वस्तत्र विश्रम्भो दानवेन्द्र जगद्गुरौ । तर्ह्यङ्गाशु स्वशिरसि हस्तं न्यस्य प्रतीयताम् ॥ 88.33 ॥

yadi vas tatra viśrambho dānavendra jagad-gurau tarhy aṅgāśu sva-śirasi hastaṁ nyasya pratīyatām

O best of the demons, if you have such faith in him as the guru of the universe, then quickly place your own hand upon your own head and see for yourself.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.10.88.34)

यद्यसत्यं वचः शम्भोः कथञ्चिद् दानवर्षभ । तदैनं जह्यसद्वाचं न यद वक्तानृतं पुनः ॥ 88.34 ॥

yady asatyaṁ vacaḥ śambhoḥ kathañcid dānavarṣabha tadainaṁ jahy asad-vācaṁ na yad vaktānṛtaṁ punaḥ

O best of the demons, if the word of Shambhu should prove untrue in any way, then slay this speaker of falsehood, so that he may never again utter a lie.

Verse 35 (bhagavata.10.88.35)

इत्थं भगवतश्चित्रैर्वचोभिः स सुपेशलैः । भिन्नधीर्विस्मृतः शीर्ष्णि स्वहस्तं कुमतिर्न्यधात् ॥ 88.35 ॥

itthaṁ bhagavataś citrair vacobhiḥ sa su-peśalaiḥ bhinna-dhīr vismṛtaḥ śīrṣṇi sva-hastaṁ kumatir nyadhāt

[Shri Shukadeva continued:] Thus bewildered by the Lord's strange and enchantingly sweet words, that fool, his mind confounded and beside himself, unknowingly placed his own hand upon his own head.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.10.88.36)

अथापतद् भिन्नशिराः वज्राहत इव क्षणात् । जयशब्दो नमःशब्दः साधुशब्दोऽभवद् दिवि ॥ 88.36 ॥

athāpatad bhinna-śirāḥ vajrāhata iva kṣaṇāt jaya-śabdo namaḥ-śabdaḥ sādhu-śabdo ’bhavad divi

At once his head split apart, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and the demon fell down dead on the spot. From the sky arose the cries of "Victory!", "Obeisances!" and "Well done, well done!"

Verse 37 (bhagavata.10.88.37)

मुमुचुः पुष्पवर्षाणि हते पापे वृकासुरे । देवर्षिपितृगन्धर्वा मोचितः सङ्कटाच्छिवः ॥ 88.37 ॥

mumucuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi hate pāpe vṛkāsure devarṣi-pitṛ-gandharvā mocitaḥ saṅkaṭāc chivaḥ

When that sinful Vrikasura was slain, the celestial sages, the ancestral spirits and the Gandharvas rained down flowers. Thus Shiva was freed from that peril.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.10.88.38)

मुक्तं गिरिशमभ्याह भगवान् पुरुषोत्तमः । अहो देव महादेव पापोऽयं स्वेन पाप्मना ॥ 88.38 ॥

muktaṁ giriśam abhyāha bhagavān puruṣottamaḥ aho deva mahā-deva pāpo ’yaṁ svena pāpmanā

Then the Supreme Person, Purushottama, said to Girisha, now free of danger: "Just see, O Mahadeva, how this sinful one has been slain by his own sinful deed!

Verse 39 (bhagavata.10.88.39)

हतः को नु महत्स्वीश जन्तुर्वै कृतकिल्बिषः । क्षेमी स्यात् किमु विश्वेशे कृतागस्को जगद्गुरौ ॥ 88.39 ॥

hataḥ ko nu mahatsv īśa jantur vai kṛta-kilbiṣaḥ kṣemī syāt kim u viśveśe kṛtāgasko jagad-gurau

O Lord, what creature who has offended great souls has ever remained secure — how much less, then, one who offends the Lord and guru of the very universe!"

Verse 40 (bhagavata.10.88.40)

य एवमव्याकृतशक्त्युदन्वतः परस्य साक्षात् परमात्मनो हरेः । गिरित्रमोक्षं कथयेच्छृणोति वा विमुच्यते संसृतिभिस्तथारिभिः ॥ 88.40 ॥

ya evam avyākṛta-śakty-udanvataḥ parasya sākṣāt paramātmano hareḥ giritra-mokṣaṁ kathayec chṛṇoti vā vimucyate saṁsṛtibhis tathāribhiḥ

Lord Hari is the directly manifest Supreme Truth, the Supreme Soul, the boundless ocean of inconceivable powers. Whoever narrates or hears this account of Lord Shiva's deliverance is freed from all enemies and from the cycle of birth and death.